Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: How Tulsa’s new Lost Pet Map could reunite you with your pet

And on the Tulsa Patch calendar - Candlelight: Queen Meets ABBA

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Thursday December 18th Patch AM
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Hey there, Tulsa! Let's get started with what's happening in and around town. Read on and stay in the loop. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • How Tulsa’s new Lost Pet Map could reunite you with your pet
  • Could your Tulsa nonprofit qualify for Bernsen Foundation funding?
  • See what makes Hicks Park’s new playground truly inclusive for kids

Also on today's calendar: Candlelight: Queen Meets ABBA.

Find out what's happening in Tulsafor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: My brother swallowed a box of firecrackers. - Is he all right now? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

Find out what's happening in Tulsafor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Thursday: Increasingly windy, with a high of 60 and low of 30 degrees.
  • Friday: Breezy in the afternoon, temps: high: 59, low: 45.
  • Saturday: Breezy in the morning; sunny, with a high of 63 and low of 34 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Tulsa launches interactive map to help find lost pets (publicradiotulsa.org) — Tulsa Animal Services has rolled out a new Lost Pet Map to help residents quickly find or report missing animals. The online tool shows shelter-held pets and owner-reported lost pets from across the city, addressing ongoing concerns about roaming and aggressive dogs, especially in north Tulsa neighborhoods.
   

2. Grace and Franklin Bernsen Foundation (insidephilanthropy.com) — If you run a Tulsa-area nonprofit, the Grace and Franklin Bernsen Foundation may be a key local funder, focusing heavily on human services. The Tulsa-based foundation backs groups like Meals on Wheels, domestic violence and child abuse agencies, and local arts institutions, and reviews short abstracts monthly before inviting full grant proposals.
   

3. New inclusive playground opens at Hicks Park (fox23.com) — A new fully inclusive playground is now open at Tulsa’s Hicks Park, designed so children of all abilities can play together using adaptive swings, sensory features, and a wheelchair-accessible tower. Funded by a major private donation and city partnerships, the project also brings upcoming upgrades to sidewalks, parking, and restrooms, with another inclusive playground planned at Bales Park.
   

4. Some small businesses report 40% sales drop during crucial holiday season (kjrh.com) — Tulsa small business owners say this holiday shopping season is far slower than usual, with some reporting sales down nearly 40% and foot traffic sharply reduced. Shopkeepers from Cherry Street to 11th Street are trying creative tactics to lure customers and stress that even small purchases can help keep these uniquely Tulsa stores alive.
   

5. Want to level up your neighborhood? Tulsa Academy now accepting apps (ktul.com) — Tulsa residents can now apply for the City of Tulsa’s free Neighborhood Academy, a three-session training series starting February 28, 2026, designed to strengthen local leadership and neighborhood groups. Graduates earn a Neighborhood Leader Certificate from the City Council and Mayor’s Office, and past participants say the academy has already helped launch new associations and projects across Tulsa. Applications are due January 31, 2026.
   

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Found cat!
    Hello, I had this cat just force his way into my door and I honestly can’t keep him. I’m very allergic (I risked it for the pic cause he wouldn’t… (Nextdoor Brookside)
  • I am trying to find a home for a puppy I found starving (he’s not anymore!
    lol) I have dogs of my own and a child and not enough space. If you can’t tell in the pictures, he looks black, but is actually really dark chocolate… (Nextdoor Grandview Manor)
  • Whataburger posted a job opening for Restaurant Porter - Unit 998 in Tulsa. Apply here.
  • Sam's Club posted a job opening for Baker and Packager Associate in Tulsa. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Tulsa here.

Ok Tulsa! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don’t know. I haven’t heard the last report.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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